Steering-gear coupling.



- :.HJENNESSY.

.STEERING GEAR COUPLING.

APPlrlcATloN FILED JULY a. 19u.

Patented Apr. 23, 1918 ATTORNEY lll .Janus H. rnNNnssY, or ANnunsoN, farniente., essIeNon or UNEF-HALF To 1t. of

ELLrsoN, or ANnnnsoN, INDIANA.

STEERING-enna 'coUPLINd Latinas.

To all whom t mayconoern: f

Be it known that I, JAMES II. FnNNnssY, a citizenv of the United States, residing at Anderson, in the county of Madison and State of Indiana, have invented new andV useful Improvements in Steering-Gear Couplings, of which the following is al specification. t

This invention relates to improvements in devices for preventing the unauthorized operation of vehicles, and has particular reference to a steering` gear coupling.

The principal purpose of the invention is to furnish a simple and eiicient coupling device applicable to the steering rod of an automobile, bicycle, or similarly controlled vehicle, whereby the steering gear may readily be rendered inoperative when desired. l

Another object is to provide a detachable locking element for the device which may be removedv and carried by the operator.

For purposes of illustration, I have-described in the specification below and shown in the drawings a preferred form of the invention as applied to an automobile steering gear.

In the drawings Figure 1 represents a fragmentary perspective view of a steering wheel and rod constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section.

Fig. 3 shows the lock ring in detail.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the locking ring showmg the side opposite from ythat shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is al transverse sectional view taken through the coupling Vand shaft.`

Fig. 6 is an end elevation.

I-Iaving more detailed reference to the drawings, a steering wheel l is shown as arranged for operation of the usual steering rod 2. In accordance with the invention, the wheel 1 is properly secured to one end of a collar 3 loosely mounted on the shaft for free rotation, andprovided at the other end with a peripheral flange 4. In the present instance the wheel is connected to the collar 3 by an annular element 18 snugly fitting the collar 3 and having inward projections engaged in channels of the collar, and secured to the wheel and collar by suitable means shown as screws.

Positioned on the shaft in face to face conv speeiaanoof Letters raient.

Application inea .my e, 1917. serial No. 179,465.

"sleeve 13 is 19 in the end` Patented Apr.. 23, 1913;.

tact with the flanged end of the collar 3 is a locking ring 5 consisting of anexternally threadedannulus constructed for ready removal from the shaftl 2 of two `segmental portions 6 connected by a spring 7, and

provided with suitable register pins 8 to.`

insure Vcorrect alinement of the threads.

Eachsegment G is formed inwardly with a channel 9 for receiving `a suitable projection 10 provided onthe shaft 2; and on one face with. aychannel 11 for receiving a projecton l2'on the adjacent end of the collar 3, wherebyrelative rotation of the wheel andshaft will be prevented in the engaged position of the locking ring 5. To detachably retain the ring in such position, a loosely mounted on the collar 3, and has at one end an linternal flange 14 adapted to engage against the ange 4, and is formed interiorly toward the other end with screw threads 15 for engaging with the screw threads on the locking ring.l

In practice, upon leaving the car, the locking ring 5 is released by a few turns of the sleeve 13, and may be removed from the shaft and carried by the operator, thereby rendering the steering gear inoperative. Io prevent the substitution of another locking ring by an unauthorized person, a pin 16 is provided on the ring 5 for engaging in a recess 17 in the collar 3; and in manufacturing the device, the position of the pin and recess is varied in different couplings.

It will be evident that the invention is not restricted in application to automobiles, nor even to vehicles in general, and that it may be constructed in a` variety of forms; and the right is reserved to such changes, alterations, andmodiications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the` mounted on the shaft in i'ace to face Contact with one end of the collar, and a sleeve overlying and engaged-With the Collar and annnlns whereby separation of the segmentsv of the annulus is prevented and the annnlus is maintained in engagement vvith the shaft and collar to prevent relative movement of said shaft and Collar. l

3. In a coupling7 a shaft, a collar rotatably mounted on the shat,`an annnlus Comprising-a pair of relatively movable segments detaehably monnted on the shaft in aee to aee eontaeinyfith one end ,of the collar, anda sleeve overlying and engaged With the Collar and detaehably engaged with the annnlus, whereby. means on the annulns' are maintained in engagement with means on said shaft and collar to prevent relativerotation of the shaft and collar.

.4. In a coupling, a shaft, a hanged Collar rotatably mounted on the shaft, an annnlus on the shaft in aee tofaee Contact With one end yof the collar, anda sleeve overlying the collar andannnlns and havingvfianged engagement With'the VCollar and screivthreaded engagement with the annulus; said annulns comprising a pair of segments con nected by spring means whereby the annulus may be removed from the shaft when disengaged from the sleeve; said elements formed-with means adapted to be retained. in engagement with means on the shalt and collar and prevent relative rotation ot the shaft and kcollar when the annnlns is engaged with the sleeve.

5. In asteering gear coupling, a shaft, a collar coaxially disposed to the sha-ft, a locking element detaehably mounted on the shaft and adapted for engagement with the shaft and the collar to prevent relative rotathe locking element to prevent the use of av l .f

locking element not intended 'tor the particular coupling.

In testimony Whereo4 I ahx my signatn re.

JAMES H. FENNESSY.

. ACopies ofv'chis` patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington,D.C. 

